SPRING 2019 ASHBROOK ESTATE NEWS WILYABRUP MARGARET RIVER WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Welcome!

To our 2019 spring edition!

It’s Sesame Street maddies in the vineyard this time of year! Keeping up with Mother Nature requires being in every block of the vineyard all at once. We have been blessed with lovely sunny days and cool nights and the vines are looking healthier than ever - keeping the vineyard team fit! Vegan-friendly and sustainable If our wildflowers, livestock and Who says we’re not trendy?! Ha ha, but seriously. Did you know haymaking have been an indication of all Ashbrook Estate’s are vegan-friendly? We have also anything, the season is looking very prosperous, touch wood. Off the farm, followed sustainable vineyard management practices for 41 Ashbrook has had a busy spring with vintages now. No, we are not certified organic or biodynamic but our wines featured at the 2019 we pride ourselves on incorporating aspects of both approaches Gourmet Escape Secret Garden Twilight Dinner, our 2019 Rosé in combination with traditional practices to produce premium snapped up silver at the Margaret quality grapes each year in a sustainable manner. As a family River Show and Ray Jordan has business, we have the highest respect for our vineyard and the included our 2019 in his Top 100 Whites. land it’s grown on, it is our livelihood. Gentle handling and Enjoy the read! restrained intervention in the winery ensure the wines truly reflect and respect the vines’ terroir each vintage. In this issue: 2019 vintage Spring events Wine accolades

A reflection on Gourmet Escape Ashbrook in Ray 2019’s growing 2019 - Secret Jordan’s Top 100 season and harvest Garden Twilight Rosé silverware Dinner

ASHBROOK ESTATE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 6 SPRING 2019 2019 Vintage Reflections

2019 Vintage Report Ashbrook Estate, Wilyabrup, Margaret River

For vignerons who have been in the district a while, 2018/19 will be 2019 accolades remembered as a quintessential, mild Margaret River growing season. already received Temperatures were slightly cooler than the 10-year regional average from budburst all the way through to the end of ripening. Although no frost 2019 Ashbrook Estate damage occurred, we estimate around 10% of our vines Sauvignon Blanc experienced a short delay in ripening due to a rare cold snap in mid Ray Jordan’s Top 100 September. A timely rain event in January served to recharge the vines during Whites 2019 the long ripening. Unlike last vintage, marri blossom was scarce and the application of nets from January onwards was imperative to keep the 2019 Ashbrook Estate silvereye birds at bay. As a result of the long, mild ripening, vintage started Rosé in late February, two weeks later than recent vintages and there was no break Silver medal Margaret in harvest between the whites and reds. The 2019 vintage saw good yields across all varieties, slowly ripened fruit with retained natural acidity, River Wine Show perfumed aromas and elegant flavour profiles, reminiscent of the 2017 vintage.

Ashbrook Estate’s story In the Summer 2019 MARGARET RIVER REGION magazine

Talented freelance writer Joanne Marriott has put part of Ashbrook’s story on paper in her article From Little Things, Big Things Grow published in the Summer 2019 Margaret River Magazine. The piece is themed around lessons in winemaking and the opportunities Margaret River children have to learn about viticulture and caring for the land early on in life. With the second generation of little ones growing up on Ashbrook, it is a topic close to our hearts and it was fantastic to be asked to tell our story. The online version of the article can be found at this address: https://issuu.com/premiumpublishers/docs/your_margare t_river_region_magazine_summer_2019/44?ff The article also complements the Margaret River Unearthed podcast series Episode 5 - The Power and Passion of Winemaking Families found online at this address: https://www.margaretriver.com/wine-unearthed/

2

ASHBROOK ESTATE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 6 SPRING 2019

Dining by Twilight at Margaret River’s Secret Garden It was an exciting honour to be asked to match Each course was matched to premium wines our wines to the food creations of two super- from Ashbrook Estate and the menu also talented chefs again at this year’s Gourmet featured two beautifully balanced Seedlip non- Escape. In 2019, Dining by Twilight at Margaret alcoholic cocktails. River’s Secret Garden, presented by Seedlip, MC Max Veenhuyzen kept the night flowing celebrated the wonders of vegetables. flawlessly with the magical voice of jazz and Award-winning chef Amanda Cohen of New classical singer Cassandra Charlick adding that York’s Dirt Candy and superstar, local chef extra touch of class. Genuinely paddock to plate George Cooper of Tiller Dining prepared a and trellis to table in the beautiful surrounds of vegetable degustation using produce from Margaret River’s Secret Garden made for a Cooper’s own farm. plant-based extravaganza!

Perth food, drink and travel writer.

Chef Amanda Cohen Chef George Cooper MC Max Veenhuyzen

3

ASHBROOK ESTATE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 6 SPRING 2019

Wine accolades Ray Jordan’s Top 100 Whites 2019

We are thrilled that WA’s pre-eminent wine writer Ray Jordan, has included our 2019 Ashbrook Estate Sauvignon Blanc in his Top 100 White Wines this year. From the moment fermentation commenced we knew it was going to be a stand out wine. The perfume, flavour and length are a perfect example of how Sauvignon Blanc responds to cane-pruning on a lyre trellis.

Margaret River Wine Show 2019

Our 2019 Rosé, only the second of its kind, has earned a silver medal in this year’s Margaret River Wine Show. Made from 100% hand- picked shiraz grapes which are gently whole bunch pressed without rotation to achieve a natural, pale terracotta colour. The wine is fermented in stainless steel until dry and delicious. A rare wine, only 100 cases made, happy summertime drinking everyone!

4

ASHBROOK ESTATE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 6 SPRING 2019 Ashbrook spring time in pictures

Five minutes with…… Ashbrook cellar door legend Megan Chadwick If there’s anyone you want in your winery cellar unparalleled; we are very fortunate to have her door, it’s Megan Chadwick. Although small in on our team. stature she is a vivacious, witty, larger than life Q & A : character with energizer-bunny drive and an enviable knowledge of the Margaret River Best part of being in customer service in region. Margaret River? Most people are on holiday and very relaxed. Originally from Victoria, Megan has worked at six wineries of varying size since she moved to Major changes you’ve noticed to the wine Margaret River and you either know her, or scene over the years? Huge growth and a know someone who knows her. broader range of people interested in Margaret River wines. Megan started at Ashbrook in 1992 and if you visit our cellar door on a Tuesday or Thursday Top drop? Chardonnay. you will be lucky enough to meet her. Favourite food and wine combination? As a mum to three teenage boys, Megan’s Chardonnay and crayfish, or Chardonnay and attentive, customer service abilities are anything anyone else cooks!

5 ASHBROOK ESTATE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 6 SPRING 2019 Signing off! As the weather heats up we will be keeping cool, by any means necessary. A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our wine industry supporters and partners!

Cheers!

From the team at Ashbrook Estate